The ANC Eastern Cape Provincial Working Committee (PWC) held its first ordinary meeting on Monday, 23 October 2017 in King Williams Town, Canon James Calata House. The meeting received a brief political input from the Provincial Chairperson, which focused on the practical steps to be taken in building unity of the ANC in the Province as mandated by the Provincial Executive Committee (PEC).
These practical steps include a number of meetings to engage ANC structures broadly on the question of unity and targeted meetings to directly engage some of the comrades who had different leadership preferences in the 08th ANC Provincial Conference.
The PWC greatly welcomed the revised approach of the ANC National Working Committee (NWC) visit to the Province where now the focus of the NWC visit will be to meet directly with branches in regions then later meet with the leadership structures. The PWC also welcomed the ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) decision to hold the ANC 106th January 8th Anniversary Celebrations in the Eastern Cape.
As part of ensuring the political coordination and synergy of ANC work in government, the PWC resolved to invite the Premier and former ANC Provincial Chairperson, Cde Phumulo Masualle to be an ex officio member of the ANC PWC and PEC.
This invite will also be extended to the speaker of the Provincial Legislature, Cde Noxolo Kiviet to be an ex officio member of the PEC.
The PWC also received a report on the preparations for the 54th National Conference, which highlighted progress in nomination Branch General Meetings, the deployment of Provincial administrators to regional offices, and the training of ANC Regional Executive Committees on the NEC nomination guidelines.
The PWC urged all ANC structures in the Province to hit the ground running in convening their nominating BGMs as the province is behind schedule due to delays caused by the 8th Provincial Conference.
The PWC takes a dim view on some of the NEC members who come in and out of the Province without the knowledge of the ANC Provincial Office. We have always taken a view that some of the political divisions within the ANC in the Eastern Cape are sponsored from outside the Province, and this in and out of NEC members is part of a coordinated campaign to divide the Province.
The reported visit of comrade Nomvula Mokonyane to the Amathole Region over the weekend is a case in point.
There is an established organisational protocol that when the NEC is coming to do organisational work in a Province, the PEC is informed and the same goes for the PEC in Regions.
We in fact wonder if the Office of the Secretary General (SGO) authorised the deployment of Cde Nomvula Mokonyane to the Province, since she is not even part of the NEC Deployees to the Province.
This un-organisational conduct flies in the face of the pronounced steps from the NWC about assisting the ANC EC to find unity post the Provincial Conference, hence we view this conduct as factionalism of the highest proportions. We wish to re-iterate that the PEC has in line with the NWC position committed itself to the unity of the Organisation at all levels and therefore we will refuse to be dragged into any form of divisive conduct by anyone that borders on promoting disunity and factionalism.
The PWC in this regard resolved to formally write to NEC to express our displeasure and request urgent measures be taken to reign-in this conduct displayed by comrade Nomvula Mokonyane, a senior member of the organisation.
Lastly the ANC NWC clarified that in between now and the NEC dealing with the complaint, the PEC as elected in the 8th Provincial Conference is the legitimate ANC authority in the Province, as such any structure or individual in the Province that claims not to recognise this PEC on the basis that there is a complaint lacks an understanding of internal ANC organisational processes, and as such any defiance of PEC decisions will not be taken lightly.
The PWC welcomed the OR Tambo Centenary Celebrations that will be held on the 27th October 2017. As the ANC in the Eastern Cape we are proud to host this important gathering, which will be held at the birthplace of President OR Tambo.
In honouring the life and legacy of our longest serving President, the ANC will continue to work with Government to ensure that the celebrations are not just an event, but leave an impact on the people of Mbizana, such as the projects that are already underway.
The meeting also learnt about the tragic accident that occurred at the Lwandile Village near Ngqeleni, which sadly claimed the lives of four learners from Ntshilini Senior Secondary School. The PWC noted with concern the number of learners that we lose in accidents involving bus companies contracted to provide the scholar transport service and called for an urgent investigation to determine the exact cause of the accident.
The ANC sends its condolences to the bereaved families, and wishes a speedy recovery to the learners that are still receiving care.
The PWC wished all the matriculants good luck in their exams, the future of this province is in your hands, do us proud.
This statement must be attributed to the ANC EC Provincial Secretary, Cde Lulama Ngcukayitobi.
For more information please contact:
ANC Eastern Cape Media Liaison Officer
Judy Mpetsheni
Mobile No: 073 117 6194 / 063 687 8267
Email: judy.ngoloyi@gmail.com
